Prevention

(1)Proper diet

• Restrict foods high in purine (a substance that produces uric acid when broken down) such as sardines, anchovies, brains, liver, kidneys, tripe, sweetbreads, tongue, shellfish (mussels and oysters), fish roe, scallops, peas, lentils, beans and an excessive amount of red meat.
• People with gout should eat more raw fruit, vegetables, grains, seeds and nuts. Cherries and strawberries are recommended. Uric acid and vinegar based foods should be avoided.
• Increase intake of dairy products, such as nonfat milk and yogurt, because they can lower the frequency of gout attacks.
• Avoid fructose, such as in corn syrup and diet sodas.

(2)Healthy lifestyle

• Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy body weight. Lose weight if you are overweight, but do not go on diets designed for quick or extreme loss of weight because they increase uric acid levels in the blood. Losing weight too rapidly can occasionally precipitate gout attacks.

(3)Reduce alcohol intake.

• Alcohol especially taken in the form of beer and wine can increase uric acid levels. Limit alcoholic drinks to one or two measures a day. Drinking plenty of water helps prevent further attacks.

(4)Drink plenty of fluids

• Drinking plenty of fluids especially water helps eliminate uric acid from the body.

(5)Avoid stress

• Avoiding stress is an important preventive measure against future gout attacks. A healthy mind often means a healthy body.
• By adopting a ‘gout diet’, taking regular exercise, drinking plenty of fluids whilst reducing alcohol intake, further gout attacks can be avoided.